Sewer cleaning machines



Jan. 17, 1956 Filed Nov. 1 1951 J. V. O'BRIEN SEWER CLEANING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 17, 1956 J v, O'BRIEN 2,73%74-0 SEWER CLEANING MACHINES Filed NOV. 1 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V II 9 41 SEWER CLEANING MACHINES John V. QBrien, Paris Ridge, iii.

Application November 1, 1951, Serial No. 234,323

15 Claims. (Cl. l-1ii4.3)

This invention relates to improvements in sewer cleaning machines and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is more especially concerned with a sewer cleaning machine of the kind that includes a motor driven,

outer drum-like member and an inner drum-like member arranged coaxially with but mounted for rotation in dependently of the first drum-like member and which members coact to form between them an annular chamber or compartment for the storage of the convolutions of the coiled cable used by the machine in cleaning an obstruction from a sewer or the like. Such a machine further includes a tubular cable distributor, arranged for rotation coaxially with said drum-like members, which distributor opens through the periphery of the inner drum-like member and into said chamber and through which distributor the cable is payed out and coiled back into said chamber.

Machines of this kind, as heretofore made, are open to certain objections which the present invention overcomes. In certain of such machines as heretofore made difiiculty was encountered in the cable distributor because of the bearing arrangement therefor. Also in some machines the safety factor for the operator was not all that it should be, because the drum structure was so arranged that, under the great torque imposed on the cable in the operation of the machine, said torque builds up into the coil in the chamber, to such an extent as to seek release by springing out through the spaces between the drum members as flying loops capable of damaging the coil as well as seriously injuring the operator.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine for cleaning out obstructed sewers and industrial pipe lines of a considerable range in diameter by means of a cable fed from a motor driven drum arrangement, which is so constructed as to control the torque of the cable and eliminate the buckling and kinking thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind having an improved safety factor for the operator by so confining the cable when stored in the drum arrangement of the machine as to prevent the escape and unlooping of the stored cable from the drum under the action of torque seeking release.

Also it is an object of the invention to provide a machine of this kind which may be wheeled or skidded, as the job conditions require, up ramps and stairs, into and out of transport trucks, even while assembled and which may be readily disassembled into a few parts that may be hand carried. This makes it easier for the operator to handle the machine through doorways and the like as well as to drain and clean after an operation thereof.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide in a machine of this kind an improved mounting for the cable distributor arm, whereby it is journalled at two longitudinally spaced points for a truer running of the arm, with less vibration and liability of a bending of the arm and attending disadvantages thereof.

2,739,740 Patented Jan. 17, 1956 Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide in a machine of this kind an improved mounting for the cable distributing arm, whereby the same may be quickly and easily removed from the machine when necessary and as easily and quickly replaced.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide, in a machine of this kind, independently rotatable drums arranged to coact in defining a cable storage chamber therebetween, with the drums having clearance spaces between adjacent parts thereof of a width less than the diameter of the cable and whereby the cable cannot escape from said chamber out through said spaces under torque action.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the advantages thereof will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sewer cleaning machine embodying the preferred form of the invention, as viewed from one end thereof.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the machine, as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the machine as viewed from the right hand end of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse vertical sectional view through a part of the machine, as taken on the line 4-4 and on a scale enlarged over that of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view on an enlarged scale of parts appearing in Fig. 2, more clearly showing the structure of the cable distributor arm and its associated parts, by which it is mounted in the machine.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the improved machine embodies an open, but light-weight, rigid frame preferably made of tubing and indicated as a whole by the numeral 10. Said frame is made up of pairs of U-shaped main and auxiliary frame members 11 and 12 at each side of the machine.

Each U-shaped frame member 11 comprises a horizon tal base portion 13 and upwardly and inwardly inclined front and rear end legs 14 and 15 respectively. Each U-shaped frame member 12 also comprises a longitudinal base portion 16 and upwardly inclined front and rear end legs 17 and 18 respectively, which base portion engages and is welded to the base portion of the associated frame member 11. As the base portion 16 of each member 12 is shorter than the base portion 13 of each member it the legs 17 and 18 are spaced inwardly from the legs l4 and 15, as best appears in Figs. 1 and 2. The upper ends of the legs 15 and 13 of both frame members if and 12 are operatively attached to a horizontally disposed shaft 19 arranged in a vertical plane midway between the base members of the frame. This. shaft is preferably made of tubing having a portion 19a that extends forwardly of said legs 15 and 18 and a second portion 19b that extends rearwardly of said legs, as best appears in Fig. 2.

20 indicates a horizontally disposed transverse axle fixed to the lower portion of legs 15 and extending outwardly beyond each leg and having rotative'iy mounted thereon rubber tired truck wheels 21. The upper ends of the legs 15 and 18 of both pairs are secured to opposite sides of the midportion of the shaft 19, as best appears in Fig. 3. On the outer end of the shaft 19 is a rubber bumper 23. The inner end of this tubular shaft has a bearing sleeve 24 provided midway of its ends with a radial shoulder 25 and in the inner extremity of said shaft is fixed an internally threaded plug 26.

Journalled on the sleeve 24 outwardly of the shoulder .is the hub 27 of the outer drum of the machine, which is indicated as a whole by the numeral 28 in Fig. 1.

3. rear inwardly extending radial flanges a and 3% respectively see Fig. 2) and front and rear series of spokes 31-32 connect the rim near its rear flange with longitudinally spaced mid portions of the hub 27.

A hub 35 is journall'ed on that portion of the sleeve 24 forwardly of the flange 25' and it is" retained against. endwise displacement by a shoulder washer 36, in turn held in place by a wing bolt 37' that threads into the plug 26. The hub carries a. radial flange 33 at its. rear end and engaged with the rear" face of this flange is the radial wall 39 of an inner drum 40;. said wall being fixed to the flanges in any suitable manner. Said drum includes a forwardly extending cylindrical flange or rim 4'1 which is flared at its front end as. at 41 and is. joined at its: rear end to the radial flange. At one point in the cylindrical flange; is a recess 42, the purpose of which. will more fully appear later.

133 removing the wing bolt 37 and washer 36, the drum 4t and its hub 3'5 may be removed from the sleeve 24- when necessary. With the inner drurn' 40' mounted on said sleeve as described, it is apparent that it can turn on said sleeve independently of the outer drum.

An annular plate 45 is fixed at its outer margin to the front end flange 3021' of' the outer drum, extending inwardly therefrom toward the front end flange of the inner drum, the inner edge of. said plate being disposed adjacent the flange flared part 41 of'the inner drum 4%, be ing separated therefrom by'a space 41 which has a smallor dimension than. the diameter of the cable (later men tioned) used in connection with the machine. A second annular plate 46 is fixed to the front face of the spokes 31 as by welding or the like and this plate has a diameter approximating that of the inner edge of the rear flange 30b of the rim 30. This plate, which is provided with a number of drain openings 47 (see Fig. 3) is separated from the radial flange 39 of the inner drum 40 by a space 40 of a width less than the diameter of the cable before mentioned.

Thus the rim 30 of the outer drum, along with the plates 45-46 and the flange41 of the inner drum coact to provide an annular chamber 48 for the storage of the cable 512' used in connection with the. machine, as a plurality of convolutions or loops which arrange themselves in an orderly fashion in said chamber in the paying out and winding in offsai'd' cable as the drums are rotated. As the associated adjacent parts of said drums are separated by spaces of a width less than the diameter of said cable, it is obvious that upon a release of torque in the cable, during, the use or" the machine, the coil cannot escape but through said spaces with possible damage to the coil and injury to the operator of the machine or persons in proximity to the machine.

In the operation. of' the machine the outer drum is positively driven, independently of the inner drum, by means now to be described. At the rear of the machine and fixed to and extending upright from the axle 20 is a pair of' standards 55, one on each side the axis of the fixed shaft 19. At least the upper ends of said standards are tubular to be telescopically engaged by extensions 55-56 which support a platform 57 on. their upper ends. A motor 58 is mounted on said platform and drives a grooved pulley 59, a belt. 60 passing around the pulley and around the rim. of the outer drum, as best appears in Fig. 1,, whereby the outer drum is driven. from the motor at asui'tabliy reduced speed. The. extensions 56 carry wing'bolts. 61 which. pass through slots inv the upper ends of the standard and have a threaded engagement in the associatedv extensions. By adjusting. the extensions relative to the standards the proper driving. tension may be provided in the belt 60;

The front end pairs of legs 14 and 17 of the frame are inclined upwardly: and inwardly toward the longitudinal' central: line of. the machine. and the top ends of said legs are attached to opposite. sides of. a. sleeve. support 65. This, support is' provided in the top surface of the rear 4 1 end with a recess 66 and is provided at the front end withadepending tubular portion- 67, open at its top and closed at its bottom end by a plug 68. A stem 69 slides vertically through this plug, its top end being threaded as at 70 and its bottom end being provided with a wing head 71 whereby it may be turned from outside the tubular portion. The mid portion 72 of this stem is reduced in diameter and opening through one side of the tubular portion is a stop pin 73 which coacts with the stem to hold it against longitudinal escape through the ping 68, but permits a turning movement of the stem and a limited amount of longitudinal movement.

he upper face of the support is concaved longitudinally' so that a sleeve 75 may seat therein in axial alignment with the shaft 19 This sleeve is provided on the under side of its rear end with a tenon 76 that fits in the pocket 66 before mentioned, said sleeve being provided on the underside of its front end with a depending boss 17' that fits in the upper end of. the tubular portion 57 as best appears in Fig. 5. This boss is internally threaded to receive the upper end of' the stem 69. When the stem is turned in one direction it threads? into the boss and draws the. sleeve into a tight engagement in the seat of the support and holds it against turning laterally. When the stern is turned in the other direction for enough to be released from the boss 77, the sleeve and the tenon 76 and boss 77 therein may be removed from the support when necessary. In the ends of the sleeve 75 are bearings 7S'-7;. the purpose of which will appear later.

indicates as a whole a cable distributor which leads from the chamber 43, in which the coiled cable 50 is stored, out through the sleeve 75. Said distributor includes a tubular body 81- with a straight front end portion -32 and an upwardly and outwardly directed rear end portion 83 which also has a lateral bend therein, as best appears in Fig. l. The extremity of the portion 83 is belled' and is disposed within the recess 42 in the flange 41 of the inner drum 40.

The straight front end portion 8'3 is journalled in the bearing 7379 in the sleeve 75. Collars 8435 are so fixed to the straight portion as to engage the ends of the sleeve 75, whereby the tubular member 84? and the sleeve are operatively connected together against longit'udinal separation while permitting a relative rotation between them. Spaced longitudinally rearward from the straight portion 82' is a bearingsleeve 86 which is capable of being journalled on a front end portion of the hub 35 of the inner drum. This sleeve 86 is connected to the body by a rear bar 87'. The parts just mentioned best appear in Fig. 5'.

The cable is fixed at one end by a suitable clamp to the rim 30 of the outer drum near the. flange 3%, the inside convolution of the cable coils passing through the tubular member 80 and. then out through and beyond the extremity of the straight portion 82 to have a cutting or other suitable tool 90 (see. Fig. l) secured thereto.

The rear ends of the base members 13 of the side frames 11.-11 are connected. by transversely extending, longitudinally spaced connectors 90' and fixed to the top thereof is a guide channel 91 in which is received the shaft 92 of a handle bar, thev latter carrying a cross bar 93 at its rear end. The guide channel is disposed in the longitudinal center of the frame. of the machine and carries a clamp screw 94 tov lock the handle bar either in its extended or retracted position. At that end opposite the cross bar 93,. the handle bar is provided with a stop 95. which is adapted to engage the guide channel to limit. the withdrawal of the handle when in its extended position, in which position it can be locked by the clamp 94.

When the handle bar is: in its: extended position the entire; machine: be moved about. on its wheels from place. to place its the manner of: a hand truckt In Figs. 1 and 2 the machine is shown in its position of use, that is with its frame disposed horizontally. In the use of the machine the watery fluid encountered, as in a clogged sewer, will adhere to the cable when backed into the storage chamber. By means of the extended handle the machine may be swung about the axle 20 into a position wherein the bumper 23 engages the same surface as the wheels 20, at which time the frame will stand in a substantially vertical position. By reason of the arrangement of the plate 46 in the outer drum, the watery fluid may quickly drain from the interior of the drum.

In the operation of the machine, when the tool on the free end of the cable engages the stoppage in the pipe being cleaned, it will cling thereto and as the drum structure is being driven by the motor 53 torque is developed in the cable stored in the chamber 48 so that the coils therein contract in diameter by approaching the periphery of the inner drum. When the torque is momentarily released or eased off by freeing and then applying or reengaging the tool with the obstruction, the

tendency is for the coils to kick back with a snap action toward the outer drum. However, with the parts of the drums arranged in the limited spaced relation described, the cable cannot escape from the chamber. Hence the operator is protected from the action of the cable which is definitely confined within the chamber. Thus the machine is safe in use, may be readily disassembled for cleaning and transport and then reassembled for subsequent reuse.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sewer cleaning machine embodying therein a frame with longitudinally spaced supports, a shaft mounted in one of said supports, means providing a bearing sleeve mounted on the other of said supports coaxially with the shaft, outer and inner drums mounted for independent rotation on said shaft and coacting to define an annular chamber for the storage of the convolutions of a coiled cable therein, said outer and inner drums including annular peripheral wall portions directly confronting each other, thereby defining outer and inner peripheral wall portions of the said annular chamber, said inner drum having a peripheral opening for the passage of cable into and out of said chamber, a cable distributor member having a straight tubular portion journalled at one end in said bearing sleeve and having its other end disposed at an angle to said straight end and disposed in operative relation to said opening in the inner drum, and means carried by said distributor member providing a bearing portion spaced longitudinally from said end of said straight portion and disposed coaxially of and rotative independ- 7' ently of said shaft.

2. A sewer cleaning machine embodying therein a frame with longitudinally spaced supports, a shaft mounted in one of said supports, means providing a bearing sleeve mounted on the other of said supports coaxially with the shaft, outer and inner drums mounted for independent rotation on said shaft and coacting to define an annular chamber for the storage of the convolutions of a coiled cable therein, said inner drum having a peripheral opening for the passage of cable into and out of said chamber, a cable distributor member comprising a length of tubing having a straight portion at one end journalled in said bearing sleeve and a curved portion at its other end disposed in operative relation to said opening, a bar carried by said tube and extending at one end beyond a part of said curved portion, and means carried by said bar providing a bearing portion disposed coaxially of and rotative independently of said shaft.

3. A sewer cleaning machine embodying therein a frame with longitudinally spaced supports, a shaft mounted in one of said supports, a bearing sleeve, means detachably mounting said sleeve in the other of said supports, coaxially with said shaft, outer and inner drums mounted for independent rotation on said shaft and coacting to define an annular chamber for the storage of the convolutions of a coiled cable therein, said outer and inner drums including annular peripheral wall portions directly confronting each other, thereby defining outer and inner peripheral wall portions of the said annular chamber, said inner drum having a peripheral opening for the passage of cable into and out of said chamber, a cable distributor having a straight tubular portion journalled at one end in said sleeve and having its other end disposed at an angle to said straight end and disposed in operative relation to said opening and means carried by said distributing member providing a bearing portion disposed coaXially of and rotative independently of said shaft.

4. A sewer cleaning machine embodying therein a frame with longitudinally spaced supports, a shaft mounted on one of said supports, a bearing sleeve mounted on the other of said supports coaxially with said shaft, outer and inner drums mounted for independent rotation on said shaft and coacting to define an annular chamber for the storage of the convolutions of a coiled cable therein, said outer and inner drums including annular peripheral wall portions directly confronting each other, thereby defining outer and inner peripheral wall portions of the said annular chamber, the inner drum including a hub and having an opening in its periphery for the passage of cable into and out of said chamber, a cable distributor member having a straight tubular portion journalled at one end in said bearing sleeve and having its other end disposed at an angle to said straight portion and disposed in operative relation to said opening and means carried by said distributor member provid ing a bearing portion that is spaced longitudinally from said straight portion and is journalled on said hub of the inner drum.

5. A sewer cleaning machine embodying therein a frame with longitudinally spaced supports, a shaft mounted in one of said supports, a bearing sleeve, coacting means on said sleeve and on the other of said supports and operable to detachably connect said sleeve to said other of said supports, coaxially with said shaft, outer and inner drums mounted for independent rotation on said shaft and coacting to define an annular chamber for the storage of the convolutions of a coiled cable therein, said outer and inner drums including annular peripheral wall portions directly confronting each other, thereby defining outer and inner peripheral wall portions of the said annular chamber, said inner drum having a peripheral opening for the passage of cable into and out of said chamber, a cable distributing member having a straight tubular portion journalled at one end in said bearing sleeve and having its other end disposed at an angle to said straight end and disposed in operative relation to said opening, and means carried by said distributing member providing a bearing portion disposed coaxially of and supported by and rotative independently of said shaft.

6. A sewer cleaning machine embodying therein a frame with longitudinally spaced supports, a shaft mounted in one of said supports, a bearing sleeve, coacting means on said sleeve and on the other of said uprights and operable to detachably connect said sleeve to said other of said uprights, coaxially with said shaft, outer and inner drums mounted for independent rotation on said shaft and coacting to define an annular chamber for the storage of the convolutions of a coiled cable therein, said outer and inner drums including annular peripheral wall portions directly confronting each other, thereby defining outer and inner peripheral wall portions of said annular chamber, said inner drum having a peripheral opening for the passage of cable into and out of said chamber, and also having a hub, a tubular cable distributing member having a straight portion journalled at one end in said bearing sleeve and having its other end disposed at an angle to said straight portion and disposed in operative relation to said opening and means carried by said distributing member at. a. point spaced longitudinally from said sleeve: providing a bearing; sleeve journalled on. the hub of said inner drum.

7. A. sewer cleaning 'machine embodying thereina frame with longitudinally spaced supports, a shaft mounted on: one of said supports, asleeve supporting member' mounted onthe other of said. supports and having a recess in one end opening through the top thereof and a tubular portion. depending from: the. other end. thereof, a bearing sleeve engaged on the. top of said sleeve sup porting member and having a rib. engaged in said recess and having a. boss engaged in said tubular portion, means carried. by said tubular portion. and operable to be detachably engaged with said boss for removably securing said sleeve upon said sleeve supporting. member, outer and inner drumsmounted for independent rotation on said shaft and coacting to define an annular chamber for thestorage of the convolutions. of a coiled. cable therein, said inner drum having a peripheral opening for the passage of cable into and out of said chamber, atubnlar cable distributing member having. a. straight portion journalled at one end in said sleeve and at. the other end disposed at an: angle to said straight portion. and disposed in operative relation. to said opening and means providing a bearing portion disposed coaxially of and rotatively mounted relative to said shaft.

8. In a sewer cleaning machine, an outer drum and an. inner drum, means mounting said outer" and inner drums for independent rotation. about a common axis, said drums having peripheral portions spaced apart and extending generally in the direction of. said axis of rotation of said drums, front and rear plates extending between said peripheral portions to define therewith a chamber for holding asewer cleaning, coil, at least one of said plates being supported from and extending inwardly from the peripheral portions of the outer drum, edge portions of said last. mentioned plate and adjacent parts of the peripheral portions of said inner drum being arranged to provide an annular space therebetween, of a width less than the diameter of the coil, whereby independent rotation of said drums may take place without danger of said coil being projected out through said annular space.

9. In a sewer cleaning machine, anouter drum and an inner drum, means mounting, said outer and inner drums for independent rotation about a common axis, said drums having peripheral portions spaced apart and extending generally in the direction of said axis of said drums, the peripheral portion of the inner drum. terminating at. one end in an outwardly extending, substantially radial flange, aplate member carried by the one end of the outer drum and. extending inwardly therefrom toward but terminating short of said flange to provide an; annular space between its inner edge and the edge of said flange, a plate. member rotative with. the other one of said drums and having an edge portion extending toward: the rear peripheral portion of the other drum and separated therefrom by an annular space, the peripheral portions of said drums. and said plate members coacting to provide an annular chamber for holding a sewer cleaning coil, said annular spaces each having a. width less than the diameter of said coil, whereby independent rotation of said drums may take place without danger of said coil being projected into either of said annular spaces.

10. A cable holding. drum construction for a sewer cleaning machine embodying therein an outer drum mounted for rotation about its axis and including a peripheral portion with an inwardly extending. flange at the front thereof defining a central opening, a second drum within said outer drum and mounted for rotation about said axis independently of said outer drum, said second drum. including a radial portion and. an annular portion extending forwardly from said radial portion. toward said flange, means carried by and rotative with. one of said drums and extending radially beyond the annular portion ofi the second. drum and. coacting therewith and with the peripheral portion. and. said flange. of the outer drum in providing an. annular chamber for the storage of the convolutions of a coiled cable therein, the front marginal edge of the annular portion of the second drum being spaced from the front flange. of the outer drum; a distance less. than the diameter. of the cable coiled in said chamber.

1.1. A sewer cleaning machine embodying therein a frame, an. outer drum. means, an inner drum means positioned within said outer drum means, means supporting both said drum means from said frame for rotation in dependently of each. other, said outer and inner drum means having. portions which coact to provide an annular chamber for the storage of the convolutions of coiled cable used in cleaning obstructions from sewers, said chamber including, outer and inner confronting annular walls, at least the inner wall thereof being, formed by a front to. rearwardly extending, portion. of the inner drum, parts of the outer and inner drum means approaching soclosely adjacent each. other at the front as to provide clearance spacev therehetween, which is of a dimension less than the. diameter of said cable, and a tubular cable distributor arranged for rotation. coaxially with said drum means, said distributor having. a portion opening through the. inner drum means intosaid. chamber and through which distributor the cable may be payed out from and coiled back into said chamber.

12. A sewer cleaning. machine embodying therein a frame, an outer drum means, an inner drum means positioned within said outer drum. means, means supporting both said drum means from said frame for rotation independently of each. other, said outer and inner drum means having portions. which coact to provide an annular chamber for the storage of the convolutions of coiled cable used in cleaning obstructions from sewers, said chamber including. outer and inner confronting annular walls at least the inner wall thereof. being formed by a front to rearwardly extending port-ion of, the inner drum, parts of the outer and inner drum: means approaching so closely ad'- jecent'each other at the front and rear as to provide clearance space therebetween, which is of a dimension less than the diameter of said cable, and a tubular cable distributor arranged for rotation. coaxial'ly with said drum means, said distributor having, a portion opening through the inner drum means into said chamber and through which distributor the cable may be payed out from and coiled back into said chamber.

1'3. A sewer cleaning machine embodying therein a frame, an outer drum means, an inner drum means positioned within said outer drum means, means supporting both said drum means from said frame for rotation independently of each other, said outer and inner drum means having portions which coact to provide an annular chamber for the storage of the convolutions of coiled cable used in cleaning obstructions from sewers, said chamber including outer and inner confronting annular walls at least the inner wall thereof being. formed by a front to rearwardiy extending. portion of the inner drum, said inner drum having an outwardly extending flange which terminates so closely adjacent a wall portion of the chamber carried by the outer drum as to provide clearance. space therebetween, which is of a dimension less than the diameter or" said cable, and a tubular cable distributor arranged for rotation coaxial'ly with said drum means, said distributor having a portion. opening through the inner drum means into said chamber and through which distributor the cable may payed out from and coiled back into said chamber,

A sewer cleaning machine embodying therein a frame, an outer drum means, an inner drum means positioned within said outer drum means, means supporting both. saiddrummeans from said frame for rotation inde-endently of each other, said outer and inner drum means havi ngportions which meet to provide an annular chamber for the storage of the convolutions of coiled cable used in cleaning obstructions from sewers, said chamber including outer and inner confronting annular walls at least the inner wall thereof being formed by a front to rearwardly extending portion of the inner drum, said outer drum having an inwardly extending plate means and said inner drum having an outwardly extending substantially radial flange which terminates short of and substantially in the plane or" said inwar ly extending plate means, thereby providing a clearance space thereoetween, which is of a dimension less than the diameter of said cable, and tubular cable distributor arranged for rotation coaxially with said drum means, said distributor having a portion opening through the inner drum means into said chamher and through which distributor the cable may be payed out from and coiled back into said chamber.

15. In a sewer cleaning machine, an outer drum and an inner drum, means mounting said outer and inner drums for independent rotation about a common axis, said drums having peripheral portions spaced apart and extending generally the direction of said axis of rotation of said drums, front and rear plate means extending between said peripheral portions to define therewith a chamber for holding a sewer cleaning coil, the edge portions of said front piate means and adjacent parts of said peripheral portions 2" the inner drum being relatively arranged to provide an annular space therebetween, of a width less than the diameter of said coil, whereby independent rotation of said drums may take place Without danger of said coil being projected out through said annular space.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,111,527 Blane Mar. 15, 1938 2,318,172 Long May 4-, 1943 2,431,089 Therrien Nov. 18, 1947 2,468,490 Di Joseph Apr. 26, 1949 

